Sri Lanka expectedly cruised to a five-wicket win after India set them a modest score of 279-9 in batting friendly conditions at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium here. Thilan Samaraweera struck his second ODI hundred, Kumar Sangakkara made 60, and Sri Lanka nailed their second straight chase in the Idea Cup, nearly cementing their place in the triangular tournament's final.
- Scores - India vs Sri Lanka, Mirpur
- Brief scores: India 279/9 in 50 overs. Sri Lanka 283/5 in 48 overs
The win was set up by left-arm pacer Chanaka Welegedera, who derailed India's innings taking 5-66, his best in ODIs.
India's job was made hard by the heavy dew in the outfield. After Harbhajan Singh (3-47) revived India with a double break, Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra suffered in the batting Power Play, serving up numerous full tosses with the wet ball. Rookie Thissara Parera cashed in a 15-ball 36 to bring the game to an early closure.
India's score after being asked to bat was disappointing. Sri Lanka were without Tillakaratne Dilshan, yet it didn't help matters for India. Sangakkara and Samaraweera added 122 for the third wicket to lay the foundation for the win.
Earlier, Yuvraj Singh struck 73 and added 99 with a sedate Dhoni (37 from 69) after India were at a wobbly 71-3 in the ninth over. Virender Sehwag blazed 47 (31b, 9x4) earlier before becoming the third of Welegedera's victims.
The left-arm pacer had mixed returns, with wicket-taking balls amidst a flurry of wides, no-balls and half volleys. In his second over, he yorked Gautam Gambhir for 8, then conceded 12 in third.
In his fourth -- an over which produced 18 runs -- he had Sehwag caught behind off a no-ball, gave away two Free Hits, got Virat Kohli caught behind, and ended the over with two wides.
In his next over, Sehwag -- batting imperiously on 47 -- chipped one to mid-off.
Ravindra Jadeja's handy 39 (33b) put the batting Power Play to good use. He added 65 with Raina (35 off 46) before Welegedera yorked him, too. Zaheer Khan became his fifth wicket, backing away and leaving his stumps exposed.
With wickets falling in a hurry, India's impetuousness led them to finish poorly when 300 looked likely at one stage.
Seamer Thissara Perera took his first wicket in ODIs, getting Dhoni caught behind. Yuvraj, who holed out to deep mid-wicket, was his second.
India will take on hosts Bangladesh next on January 7.
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